FFA Newsletter February 2014

FACULTY of FOOD and AGRICULTURE NewsVolume 3 Issue 1 February 2014 The Faculty Reaches Out In This Issue The Faculty Reaches Out 1 The Faculty is Thrown into Mourning yet again 2 New Communications Unit 3 Established Title of Article Facing Food Safety Challenges 6 to the Local Cocoa Industry Navigating Through the Pressures of Publishing 8 The 11th International Conference Dr Lynda Wickham, FFA’s Deputy Dean of Outreach and on Management of AmazonianInternationalisation, left, gets involved in a session on small and Latin American Wildlife 10 business development in Soufriere, St LuciaThe Faculty of Food and The programme started with Celebrating the Faculty’s Alumni 11 Agriculture continues consultations with the OECSto focus on its mandate of Secretariat in which training Big Win for Department of Foodteaching and training for needs of the OECS Memberbuilding human resources States have been identified, Production 12in the food and agriculture with the assistance of Mrsector in the Caribbean George Alcee, Agricultural African/Caribbean European UnionRegion and assisting the Economist. Region to improve its food A proposal for the Edulink Project 11 13and nutrition security status. OECS/UWIFFACollaboration To this end, the Faculty for Agriculture is being Departmental Projects-Geography 14has been active in many developed. Meetings wereoutreach ventures and has also held with staff of the Retirement and Appreciation 15embarked on a programme Ministry of Agriculture, Food Function of identifying training and Production, Fisheries andresearch needs to be addressed Rural Development, St Lucia, Postharvest Management Strategiesin short courses, in addition to including Ms Sonia Montrose,its normal degree offerings at Deputy Permanent Secretary; to Reduce Losses 16undergraduate and graduate Mr Barry Innocent, Deputylevels. Director of Agricultural Layout and Design Ms Sarojini Ragbir Continued on Page 4 Editors Ms Sarojini Ragbir Professor Julian Duncan Ms Jhivan Pargass

Page 2 Faculty of Food and Agriculture NewsThe Faculty is Thrown into Mourning yet again Professor Emeritus Lawrence A Wilson he pursued research at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Central ExperimentStill reeling from the recent blow of the Station, Centeno, on mineral nutrition of passing of Professor Emeritus, Nazeer vegetable and field crops, and formulatedA Ahmad, of the Department of Food fertilizer recommendations for farmers.Production on June 6th 2013, the Faculty was Professor Wilson joined the Facultyonce again thrown into great sadness with of Agriculture at The University of the Westthe sudden passing of Professor Emeritus Indies (UWI) in 1967 as a Lecturer in PlantLawrence Wilson on December 2nd 2013. Physiology/Biochemistry. By 1975, he was Professor Wilson contributed appointed as Professor and Head of thesignificantly to education, research and Department of Crop Science (1975-1980)development in the field of tropical and as Dean of the Faculty of Agricultureagriculture. He was well known regionally for three terms over 1981-1986 and 1991-and internationally for his work in tropical 1994. He also acted as Principal of the Stroot crop physiology and postharvest biology. Augustine Campus on several occasions. He retired from The UWI in 2002 One of the early graduates of the and was made Professor Emeritus in 2004.University College of the West Indies In 2012, The UWI St Augustine namedin Jamaica, he graduated with the BSc one of its laboratories in the Faculty of(Botany, Zoology, Chemistry) in 1957 and Food and Agriculture, The Lawrence Wilsonthe MSc in Plant Physiology (1960), before Food Biology Laboratory in his honour.attending the University of Bristol, Long Professor Wilson’s contributions haveAshton Research Station, where he obtained been national and international. Professorthe PhD in Plant Physiology in 1964. Wilson gave over 20 years of public service toReturning to Trinidad and Tobago, various national boards such as the National Council for Technology Development, Fertrin, CentralMarketingAgency,theNationalPoultry Company, Food and Agriculture Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, Caroni (1975) Ltd, and the Sugarcane Feeds Centre among others. In 1994, Professor Wilson was appointed Head of the Caribbean Sub-regional Office of the FAO with its headquarters located in Bridgetown, Barbados. Following a two year stint in that position, he returned to his sustentative post in the Faculty. He held this post until he retired in 2002. Internationally, he served as a member and as chair of the Board of Trustees of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. He served as a Member and Chair of the Committee of Board Chairs of the CGIAR International Agriculture Research Centres. Professor

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 3Wilson was an advisor to the International Achievement Award” for his outstandingFoundation for Science, a member of the contribution to root-crop research andInternational Editorial Board of Tropical post-harvest biology in 2000 and theScience and the Board of the Commonwealth “Commitment to Excellence Award” inAgricultural Bureau International (CABI). recognition of distinguished teaching and He was a founding member of the research in Postharvest Physiology andInternational Society for Tropical Root Biochemistry, from the International SocietyCrops and an Honorary Life Member of for Horticultural Science (ISHS) in July 2013.that Society. Additionally, he was a Fellow Professsor Wilson served as theof the Third World Academy of Science. Editor In Chief of the Tropical Agriculture Among the many awards Professor Journal from 2005, and also as theWilson received were the National Institute co-editor of the Faculty of Food andof Higher Education, Research, Science Agriculture News, until his passing.and Technology (NIHERST) “LifetimeThe Faculty Establishes a Communications Unit and Appoints a new Interim Editor in Chief for its Flagship JournalThe Faculty of Food and Agriculture, has September 1963, established a Communications Unit,operating out of the Dean’s Office. The goal he was appointedof this unit is to create a central focal point forcommunication and publication, video, audio Lecturer in Botanyas well as web-based media production andprovide technical, marketing and distribution at the thensupport. Among its varied activities, the unitpublishes the Tropical Agriculture journal College of Arts(which was established in 1924 under theImperial College of Tropical Agriculture) and Sciences ofand the faculty newsletter. The unit is headedby Ms Sarojini Ragbir, Communications the St Augustine,Coordinator, and is also staffed by AudioVisual Technician, Mr Terry Sampson. Trinidad campus of The Tropical Agriculture journal nowhas a new Interim Editor In Chief, Professor The University ofEmeritus, Julian Duncan. Professor Duncangraduated from the University College of the Professor Emeritus, the West Indies West Indies (UCWI), Mona, Jamaica in 1960, Juli an Duncan where he lecturedwith the BSc (Botany and Zoology as majorsand Chemistry as a minor) in 1960, on the for 35 years, broken by a spell in 1976 whenresults of which hewas awarded the he lectured on exchange at the Universityfirst Sir James IrvineMemorial Scholarship of Reading, England. He was promoted toto the University of StAndrews, Scotland, the position of Senior Lecturer in 1973 andfrom which institutionhe graduated with the appointed Professor of Plant Sciences inPhD in fungal cytologyand genetics in 1963. In Ms Sarojini Ragbir 1991. During his tenure at the University he served as head of department on two occasions: 1973 -1976 and 1991-1998. He served as Deputy Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, from 1996-1998. Professor Duncan served as local coordinator of the Organization of American States Programme on Food and Biotechnology in the 1980s and as the representative from the Trinidad on the Board of Governors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Professor Duncan is still actively involved in research.

Page 4 Faculty of Food and Agriculture NewsThe Faculty Reaches Out Continued staff of the Fond Assau Agro- Officers of the Ministry of processing Plant. Dr Wickham Agriculture, St Lucia duringServices; Ms Marie Edward, also met with some members of a recruitment exercise hostedHuman Resource Officer; the women’s group who have by the Open Campus of Theand Mr Cletus Alexander, developed and are marketing University of the West Indies.Agricultural Officer. The a range of value added Training needs were alsodiscussion focussed on training products for domestic use. identified here including GAPto facilitate employment of In 2013, Dr Wickham training, training in postharvestyouths. met with relevant personnel and marketing to reduce in the Ministry of Agriculture, postharvest losses.Value Addition Industry, Forestry, Fisheries Officers also expressed and Rural Transformation, St great interest in the Master’sThe Faculty views value Vincent and the Grenadines, programmes offered by the to assess the current state of FFA and are looking forward toaddition in regional value addition in the tropical the time when they can pursue carbohydrate storage crops. their degrees in blended mode.commodities as an avenue for She also advocated the They were assured by the production of flour as a viable Deputy Dean that the FFA hasimproved regional food and alternative use of banana, plans to extend the availability plantain, breadfruit, cassava of these programmes throughnutrition security, increased and sweet potato for composite blended modes so that flour production as a strategy registered students can spendyouth employment, sustainable to boost food and nutrition much of the time in their home security in Caribbean states. territory, will not have to leavefood production and income their jobs and will spend time at St Augustine only for suchgeneration. Accordingly, it Training Needs aspects of the programmes that have to be offered face -to-face,has begun an assessment of More recently, after a quick such as laboratory sessions and survey of some of the areas other practical exercises.regional needs in this area. that suffered greater damage as The FFA continues a result of the weather trough to serve on the TechnicalDr Wickham met with several that affected some of our Steering Committee for the sister islands of the OECS, the Centre for Food Security andindividuals in visits facilitated Deputy Dean of Outreach met Entrepreneurship, administered with Agricultural Extension through The UWI, Cave Hill,by Ms Anthia Joshua, Farm Barbados. Improvement Officer of theAgri-Enterprise DevelopmentSection, Corporate PlanningUnit of the Ministry.Meaningful discussionswere held with Mr WilliamWeeks, well-known pioneerof processing at the cottagelevel in St Lucia and with the Agricultural Extension Officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, St ConsultationsLucia, met with Dr Lynda Wickham and UWI Mona colleague, PaulAiken, to discuss training needs and the role the FFA can play in the Closer to home, members of the Faculty have participated in aftermath of the severe weather recently experienced several meetings of state and non-governmental agencies on matters relevant to the food and agriculture sector, including the Ministry of Food Production Stakeholder’s Consultation on the Draft Agriculture Sector Policy Document 2014-2018.

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 5The Faculty Reaches Out Continued Regional Plant Quarantine Course College Science Fair The FFA places great value runs for two weeks, exposes on its collaboration with participants to training inThe Faculty participated in the regional and international various aspects of plantNorth Eastern College Science partners. Such collaboration quarantine with the objectiveFair, Sangre Grande,Trinidad, includes the offering of a of protecting of our bordersintroducing students to the Regional Plant Quarantine from the entry of invasiverange of degree offerings Course hosted by the FFA species, public educationand exposing them to some in collaboration with the and dealing with relevantof the research and teaching USDA, the Food and agencies and the public.activities of the Faculty. Agriculture Organisation of The call for Displays on composting, the United Nations (FAO) participants for the fifthorganic media and flour made and the Inter-American regional course will bein the Food Biology Laboratory Agency for Cooperation issued later in March. Thefrom alternative carbohydrate on Agriculture (IICA). programme is expected to besources (breadfruit, cassava, The course, which scheduled for August 2014.sweet potato and plantain)generated much interest among Participants getthe teenagers. practical experience Staff were introduced tothe Undergraduate Diploma in during the courseAgriculture that was designedto allow students to matriculateto the two-year programmefrom CSEC level, with theoption to continue to the BScdegree at the second year,completing the UWI degreeonly four years after CSEC. Graduate student, MicahMartin, explains composting to students of North Eastern College

Page 6 Faculty of Food and Agriculture NewsFacing Food Safety Challenges to the Local Cocoa Industry: Report of a Collaborative Study in Trinidad and Tobago By Dr Isaac Bekele and Dr Ivan Chang-YenProducing food safe enough for human heavy metals and Ochratoxin A in consumption is a significant challenge cocoa beans and related productsof the global agri-food sector. Production of (chocolates, cacao tissues, soils).safe food depends on identification of riskfactors and determination of ways to achieve 2. Evaluation of the statusmitigation, followed by development and of heavy metal and Ochratoxin Aimplementation of an adequate system for contamination of cocoa beans inmonitoring and enforcement within a sound T&T to determine whether locallegal framework. As the potential problem producers could meet internationalof heavy metals, in particular of cadmium food safety standards.in cocoa, became of increasing concernin 2004, a preliminary investigation was 3. Identification of majorundertaken at the University of the West sources and conditions responsibleIndies (The UWI), St Augustine to assess for contamination of cocoa beansthe status of possible contamination of local by heavy metals and Ochratoxin A.cocoa beans, locally produced cocoa products and importedcocoa products. 4. Evaluation of the suitability of soils used for cacao cultivation in T&T and to develop digital maps of heavy metal Cadmium affects the mammalian kidney, bones and and other mineral distributions to allow corrective actions toimmune systems, while lead is known to affect the nervous be taken to improve cocoa bean quality.system, especially in young children. Literature review also pinpointed the fungal toxin Ochratoxin A (OTA) as 5. Development of the human resource capacity toan important contaminant of cocoa. OTA is reported to be handle technical aspects of food safety through formal andtoxic even at very low doses in mammals, including humans. short-term training.Consequently, OTA is strictly controlled in chocolate-manufacturing countries and trading blocs, notably, the 6. Facilitation of systems for certification of cocoaEuropean Union, the USA, Canada and Japan, through food beans for heavy metals and Ochratoxin A to allow continuedsafety standards. Unfortunately, such food safety standards and expanded exports of cocoa beans and cocoa products.can become barriers to international trade if cocoa-producingcountries do not develop the means to monitor and control 7. To investigate the distribution of cadmium inthe levels of specific contaminants in cocoa beans. different tissues of the plant and how its levels relate to soil cadmium. Based on the results from the preliminary investigation,and what was known about Ochratoxin A (OTA) in cocoa This research project was thus intended to ensure thein the literature, a project proposal for a detailed study of production of consistently safe, high quality cocoa beansthe problem of safety of cocoa produced in Trinidad and and to enhance their processing into fine chocolates, therebyTobago was prepared by a UWI team (Dr Ivan Chang-Yen ensuring the demand and high prices for locally grown cocoa.(Analytical Chemist and Project Leader), Mrs Frances L The training of staff was an integral part of this project toBekele (Cocoa Specialist), Dr Isaac Bekele (Biostatistician) build the capacity of relevant bodies to allow for independentand the late Professor Lawrence A Wilson (Biochemist/ agricultural and health research and monitoring.Plant Physiologist). Subsequently, the project was fundedby the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Similarly investigation of heavy metal profiles of soils(T&T) through the then Ministry of Agriculture, Lands & currently used for cocoa production was intended to identifyMarine Resources (MALMR), which later became known as farms, which could readily meet international food safetythe Ministry of Food Production (MFP), as a collaborative standards. It is envisaged that the same techniques developedstudy involving The UWI and the Research Division of the in this project can be applied to all arable lands, therebyMinistry. enhancing agricultural and food quality in T&T. The project was funded from 2005 to 2010 by the Government of T&T Objectives of the Project through the MALMR. This was done under the PSIP Crop Protection Sub-Division, H542 Expansion of the sanitary, This study was designed to undertake the following: phyto-sanitary and food safety capabilities of Trinidad and1. Development of reliable test methods for selected

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 7Tobago, under the project titled “Investigation and Prevention Research Potential ,of Heavy Metal and Ochratoxin A Contamination of Cocoain Trinidad and Tobago”. The research findings to date have opened many new areas of cocoa research of benefit to the entire cocoa industry Achievements of the Project especially in the area of cadmium and Ochratoxin A control. Soil reclassification has also been identified as an urgent1. The heavy metal studies were expanded to include a area for research to ensure that soils are correctly classifiedunique study on the reduction of cadmium uptake by cacao and appropriately used for crops, including cacao, to ensuretrees by way of chemical treatments of cocoa soils. After optimal productivity and quality.four consecutive years, the results provide the first proofthat cadmium in cocoa can be controlled by appropriate soil This research has also paved the way for Trinidad andtreatments. Tobago to meet the impending introduction of food safety2. The studies on OTA in cocoa beans along the cocoa standards in cocoa (and other foods) to be imposed withinprocessing chain allowed for the development of a Hazard the next four years by the EU. The EU proposes a MaximumAnalysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based system for Residue Level (MRL) for cadmium in chocolates with equalminimizing OTA contamination of cocoa beans. This system or more than 50% cocoa solids of 0.8µg/g, a concession fromwas developed in collaboration with Professor Inteaz Alli the 0.6 µg/g first proposed and then contested by lobbyistsof McGill University, who also assisted Drs Chang Yen and from cocoa-producing countries, including T&T. In MayRoberts in conducting a training programme for MALMR, 2012, our research team assisted in preparing a position paperCocoa and Coffee Industry Board (CCIB) personnel, as well on the status of cadmium contamination in local cocoa, whichas local cacao farmers in 2011. was forwarded to the T&T High Commission in Brussels,3. The results of the heavy metal and OTA studies were where diplomats from major cocoa-producing countriesused by the MALMR to develop an Action Matrix for Heavy such as Ecuador have been lobbying for realistic MRLs toMetals and OTA Contamination of Cocoa Farms to minimize be instituted by the EU. In 2012, the Joint Expert Committeecocoa bean contamination through preventive and corrective FAO/WHO Food Additives (JECFA) issued a data requestactions. (“Call for Data”) on all information related to the assessment4. A new and effective method of determination of of exposure to cadmium in cocoa and cocoa products. Thisheavy metals in cocoa tissues and beans was developed and was a response that conceded to a recommendation madepresented internationally. Training of local laboratory staff in the position paper from Trinidad and Tobago and otherwas subsequently conducted using Proficiency Testing, under cocoa-producing countries. Trinidad and Tobago is currentlythe supervision of Drs Chang Yen and Ramtahal. working with the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the5. An improved method for OTAdetermination in cocoa Codex Coordinating Committee for Latin America and thebeans was developed and has been accepted for publication Caribbean – CCLAC, IICA and the Joint Expert Committeein the Journal of the Association of Official Analytical FAO/WHO Food Additives (JECFA) on this issue. IICA isChemists. This method permits OTA to be determined at also now co-ordinating a project, which includes Trinidadlevels below the Maximum Permissible Levels for cocoa and Tobago, to develop SPSS measures to ensure food safetybeans and chocolates and can be used to certify cocoa beans that will also benefit cocoa.for export by local accredited laboratories, once the methodis accredited. Acknowledgement6. Long-term storage of cocoa beans under modifiedstorage atmospheres using carbon dioxide was highly effective Many individuals and organizations have contributed toin storage pest control. Such storage techniques have strong this study. The then Director of the Agricultural Research,potential for use on a range of other commodities. Ms Cynthra Persad, provided strong leadership and7. A survey of farms for cadmium levels in cocoa beans support as Head of a collaborating organization. Amongin collaboration with the MALMR and CCIB has identified her staff members, Mr Kamaldeo Maharaj (Cocoafarms with potential problems of heavy metal contamination Agronomist, MFP), Mr Ian Rampersad (Soil Science)to be identified and allows appropriate preventive action to and Central Experiment Station (CES), Centeno and Labe taken. Reunion Estate staff provided critical and timely support8. Of three PhD candidates trained under this project, throughout the project. In addition, Dr Balmatee Sukha,two have successfully completed their study and the third is Analytical Chemist, MALMR (until December 2007),in the final phase. Dr Lisa Harrynanan, Analytical Chemist, MALMR (until January, 2011) participated in this project, Professor This project has been outstanding, not only for its Emeritus E Julian Duncan and the late Professor Nazeerimportance to the local and international cocoa industry,but Ahmad participated in OTA and soils, respectively. Thealso for the exceptional level of collaboration between the CCIB of Trinidad and Tobago also provided invaluableMALMR, The UWI and the local cocoa industry. assistance in facilitating access to cocoa farms, processing centres and storage facilities for the study.

Page 8 Faculty of Food and Agriculture News Navigating Through the Pressures of Publishing in an Era of Predatory Journals by Mr Renaldo Belfon1, Dr Mark Wuddivira1 and Ms Shamin Renwick2The old adage of “publish or perish” is screening exclusively on scientific validity. becoming a reality at many research Mega journals have turned to providingand comprehensive universities due to the articles that use statistics and letting the fieldjustifiable demands of funding organizations decide which works are groundbreaking, butfor tangible returns on their investments. this comes at a price to the author that canIn response, the administrative hierarchies make all but the most well-endowed blink.at many institutions have set high output Herein lies the rub. Mega open-accesstargets in an attempt to garner more external journals like PLOS ONE and scientificfunding, but which are not commensurate reports are often far too expensive forwith the resources available to researchers1. researchers in the developing world and This has manifested itself in the greater as such, many are tempted by open accessweighting of publications than teaching and journals which offer little to no actualoutreach activities by promotion and tenure peer review but require a publishing fee5.committees when assessing academic staff.Thus, junior faculty often engage in “salami predatory journalsslicing” of their scientific reporting to avoidthe guillotine and graduate students see These entities have been labeled “predatorystrong publications during their candidature journals” characterized by their request foras their only hope of landing a post-doctoral papers with impressive though annoyingposition, much less a faculty appointment2. regularity andtheprominenceof“International” Gone are the days when students hold and “Global” in their titles. The persons behindback on publishing until they have attained a these titles seemingly intentionally use titlesresearch position, instead many purposefully very similar to more established ones and onedelay graduation to beef up their CVs. of our anonymous interviewees at The UWIPublicationpressureismorekeenlyfeltinSTEM shared his shock at mistakenly submitting afields, where journal articles are the major unit paper to the Journal of Agronomy instead of theof currency, than in the arts and humanities prestigious Agronomy Journal. The journal’swhere researchers are afforded more time alarmingly quick acceptance time was theand creative space to complete book projects. only sign that he was about to commit a grave error but one wonders how many researchers open access scientific journals were as vigilant? Detractors of open access publishing often nostalgically look back atThis has created an opportunity for open the pre-open access era but forget some ofaccess scientific journals with fast turnover the issues plaguing the old guard. The bias oftimes and these now publish approximately brand name traditional journals against authors11% of all articles, whereas they were from ACP countries has long been suspected6,7virtually non-existent prior to the 1990s3. and many of the researchers we consulted inTitles like PLOS ONE have become major preparing this article have shared instancesplayers as the number of articles this mega- when they received encouraging responsesjournal publishes has risen from 138 in 2006 from reviewers only for the editor to deliver theto 23,464 in 20124. This level of output dreaded news that “this work does not appealwould not be possible without PLOS ONE to our readership.” Many traditional journalsabandoning the practice of considering the now offer an open access option and articlepotential impact of a piece of work and instead turn around times similar to that of mega open

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 9Navigating Through the Pressures of Publishing in anEra of Predatory Journals (Continued from Page 8)access titles but at comparable cost. They 1h t t p : / / w w w. d c s c i e n c e . n e t / ? p = 5 3 8 8 .charge high access fees for a product obtainedand refined largely for free, which again 2h t t p : / / o n l i n e l i b r a r y. w i l e y. c o m /hinders access to scientific information byresearchers from ACP countries. This shows doi/10.1111/opo.12090/pdf.that there are swindlers on both sides of thedivide and the administrators who set these 3http://www.nature.com/news/open-access-the-lofty publication output targets must accepttheir responsibility to provide guidelines true-cost-of-science-publishing-1.12676to help students and faculty navigate theminefield that is modern scientific publishing. 4h t t p : / / s c h o l a r l y k i t c h e n . s s p n e t . Norway is ahead of the curve indevising a “white-list” of approved journals org/2013/06/20/the-rise-and-fall-of-to which research funding is linked, whileJeffrey Beall (an Associate Professor at plos-ones-impact-factor-2012-3-730.the University of Colorado, Denver) hasproduced a list of suspected predatory 5h t t p : / / w w w. n a t u r e . c o m / n e w s /journals and publishers8. investigating-journals-the-dark- proposal side-of-publishing-1.12666.We propose a two-tiered journal rankingsystem where the first tier would consist of 6Horton, R. 2000. Public Health North andtitles that offer peer review of acceptablequality while the second tier would consist of South : Bridging the Information Gap.titles which are leaders in their sub-disciplineas we believe it is important to recognize The Lancet, 355 (9222): 2231-2236.ground breaking work. This should be updatedon a bi-annual basis with an appeals process 7Yousefi-Nooraie, R., B. Shakiba, and S. Mortaz-for titles not previously assessed.Further, we advocate improving the Hejri. 2006. Country Development andvisibility of UWI-aligned journalslike Tropical Agriculture and West Manuscript Selection Bias: AIndian Journal of Engineeringby offering open access options. Review of Published Studies. BMC Medical Research Methodology 6:37. doi:10.1186/1471- 2288-6-37.http://scholarlyoa.com. 8h t t p : / / d b h . n s d . u i b . n o / k a n a l e r. 1 Department of Food Production 2 Faculty of Food and Agriculture and Faculty of Science and Technology, Alma Jordan Library From left to right: RenaldoBelfon, postgraduate student and Mark Wuddivira, lecturer

Page 10 Faculty of Food and Agriculture NewsXICIMFAUNA -The 11th International Conference on Management of Amazonian and Latin American Wildlife By Michele D Singh Department of Food ProductionWildlife hunting is a major activity of the Trinidad coulour: black, white, brown, gold, brown with and Tobago population, with an estimated 14, a golden rump, white with a golden rump and000 legal and 5, 000 illegal hunters, as indicated by the the brown with white feet. Based on research onForestry Divison of the Ministry of the Environment and male agouti at the unit, over 11 scientific papersWater Resources, Trinidad and Tobago. “Wildmeat” is on reproductive anatomy and physiology haveconsidered as cultural cuisine and hunting patterns are been published. Feeding and nutrition studiesstronglyinfluencedbymeatvalues. Hence,thelocaldemand have also been conducted to determine thefor wildmeat must inform wildlife conservation strategies. best feeds for the agouti. Tropical forages and In the Amazon basin, community based strategies grasses as well as seasonally available fruits andhave informed the status of wildlife populations, vegetables make up the diet of this animal. generated management decisions and initiated In its collaborative efforts, the DFDmechanisms to evaluate the impact of hunting. has worked closely to provide assistance for The Department of Food Production, Faculty of the development of a “Quenk/Wild Hog”Food and Agriculture (DFP) has been involved in wildlife farm. This animal, also known as the collared peccary,studies since 1997, through the efforts of Professor Gary is considered quite a delicacy in Trinidad and Tobago.Garcia. Professor Garcia has advocated the change in This farm has generated large amounts of data,the term “wildlife” to “neo-tropical animal” in order especially on breeding and mating patterns, feedingto counteract the negative connotation of the term strategies as well as animal introduction methods.“wildlife” and to identify with the animals found in our backyards- the “new world tropics”-, from the megafauna In 2012, The UWI was successful in winning a(lions, elephants etc). The neo-tropics is home to the bid to host the 11th Conference on Managementworld’s most diverse animals, with over 2,000 species of Amazonian Wildlife (XICIMFAUNA). Thisof mammals indigenous to this part of the world. Some conferencehasasitstheme,“Alternative sustainableof the most popular of these mammals, the agouti, lappe, conservation and utilization methods for Neo-wild hog and deer, are hunted for their meat. Agouti is tropical animals” , and will be held at The UWI, Stthe most hunted and consumed species, hence an agouti Augustine Campus from 17th to 22nd August, 2014.production unit was built to farm agouti at the University The sub-themes of the conference are:Field Station, Mount Hope. This unit is the second largest Management for the Conservation of Utilized/scientifically managed unit in the world (second only to Exploited species, Conservation Management ofthat at Embrapa, Brazil) and breeds agouti of different Animal species with Conflicting Conservation Status, Wildlife Conservation Laws and Policy, Ex situ Conservation and Domestication, Finance and Economics of Neo-tropical Animals, Health, Tourism, Education, Native Peoples and Neo- tropical Animals, Hunting of Neo-tropical Animals, Cuisine, Neo-tropical Animal Art, Conservation of Neo-tropical Animals: The Special Case of the Caribbean Small Island States. For registration and accomodation, please see website xicimfauna.org or email michele.singh. [email protected].

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 11 Celebrating the Faculty’s AlumniDear readers, we have been getting requests to highlight some of the Faculty’salumni who have achieved professional success and have contributed to thedevelopment of the region’s agricultural sector and to the region as a whole.The first alumnus, whom we are proud to feature, is Mr Barton Clarke. Mr Barton Clarke, a national CARDI Headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago, of Barbados, holds a BSc also acting as Senior Scientist (1994-1995). In (Hons) in Agriculture, from 1995, he was nominated Deputy Director of The University of the Technical Programmes at the Organisation of West Indies, Trinidad and the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). From Tobago, 1975 and a Master 1997 to 2001, he served CARDI as Manager ofMr Barton Clarke of Agriculture, from the the Technical Department, and Representative University of Queensland, in Barbados. From 2001 to 2011, he was the Australia in 1980. Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO), periodically Mr Clarke started his career in 1975 as assigned to the position of PermanentSenior Agricultural Assistant, at the Central Secretary, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food,Agronomic Research Station, Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources Management,Agriculture, Barbados. From 1976 to 1980, Barbados. From September 2011 to date,he worked as an Agricultural Officer and Mr Clarke has been the FAO RepresentativeAgronomist of the Soil Conservation Unit, for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.Scotland District, Barbados. From 1980 to AS CAO Barbados, Mr Clarke1984, he returned to the Central Agronomic provided leadership and guidance in theResearch Station of the Ministry ofAgriculture, formulation and implementation of policiesBarbados as a Senior Agricultural Officer, to support the agricultural sector, including:Agronomist and Manager. Between 1984 and • The Agricultural Development Fund;2001, he worked for the CaribbeanAgricultural • The Sugar Cane Tripartite Committee Research and Development Institute (CARDI)where he held various positions, at times comprising representation from labour,simultaneously: from 1984 to 1989, he was private sector and the public sectorAgronomist and Country Team Leader to move from a sugar to a sugar caneFarming System Research and Development industry;in Dominica, where, in 1985, he was also • Marketing of Barbados branded sugar appointed CARDI Representative, a position in England and Barbados;he held until 1989; from 1986 to 1989, he was • Disaster Rehabilitation Fund;also Technical Coordinator, Leeward Islands • The Gilt Build Up Programme to and Dominica Farming Systems Research resuscitate the pork industry;and Development, and, from 1987 to 1994, • The Land for the Landless programme;Programme Leader, Technology Adaptation • Scotland District Developmentand Transfer; between 1989 and 1994, he Programme;was Project Leader, Agricultural Research • Development of an Integrated Cottonand Extension, and coordinated the Tropical Industry Business Plan and theProduce Support project, whilst serving as establishment of the regional companyCARDI Representative in St Lucia. Finally, Exclusive Cottons of the Caribbean andhe became, in 1995, Project Manager at the • Transformation and improvement of the Agricultural Incentive Scheme including

Page 12 Faculty of Food and Agriculture News new initiatives in organic farming, youth Mr Clarke is known to have been and in agriculture, adoption of post harvest continues to be an outstanding representative technology, agricultural health and of the Government of Barbados, CARDI and food safety, purchase of local produce FAO, having participated in many regional by public institutional and hotels, good and international fora including International agricultural practices, irrigation and water Sugar Organization, the International Cotton harvesting. Advisory Committee, West Indies Sea Island Mr Clarke also participated in and or Cotton Association, Council for Trade andprovided leadership in several multi-sector Economic Development of CARICOM,and multidisciplinary initiatives including the: Food and Agriculture Organization and• National Chronic Non Communicable OECS Ministers of Agriculture Meeting. Diseases Commission, During his career, Mr Clarke has• National Advisory Committee for maintained contact with the Faculty of Occupational Safety and Health, Agriculture, assisting with instruction in the• 360 degree performance review and Windwards and Leewards Extension Training, development system for Permanent attending the Annual Regional Agricultural Secretaries and Officers of Related Grade, Research and Extension Conference• Energy conservation and information and held under the auspices of the Caribbean communications policies for the public Agricultural Extension Project, partnering sector, with The UWI in the implementation of the• Food and General Supplies Committee Agricultural Research and Extension Project under the Department of Emergency and being a member of the CARDI, UWI, Management with responsibility for University of Florida committee to promote feeding the nation post any disaster. exchange, training and transfer of technology.Big Win for Department of Food Production at the UWI Credit Union’s Annual Carnival Ole Mas Competition: ‘Food Production for Food Security and Safety’The Department of Food Production (DFP), Best Portrayal-Social - Special prize for Hogt h e Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Farmer- $500.00participated in UWI Credit Union’s Annual Early Bird Prize- Ice cream supplyCarnival Ole Mas Competition on Friday Recognition for Best Flag Portrayal21st, February, 2014, held at the Dudley Some of the portrayals were on theHuggins Car Park. The DFP’s team, using production of agouti, pumpkin, shadonthe sobriquet Big People Possee, comprised beni, banana, dasheen bush and food safety.academic, administrative, technical, field Congrats to the DFP’s Big People Possee!and secretarial staff, undergraduate andpostgraduate students, and members of theAgricultural Society. The DFP team had lessthan one week to prepare for this event.Through its presentation titled FoodProduction for Food Security and Safety, theDFP convincingly beat out the competitorsto win the following major prizes:Ole Man Band 1st Prize - $2000.00Biggest Posse-Uniform - $500.00Best Individual Male Ole Mas (ShadowBenny) - $700.00

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 13African/Caribbean European Union Edulink Project 11- Food Science and Technology in Africa and the CaribbeanThe African/Caribbean European Union/ Technology in Africa and the Caribbean Edulink 11 project on Food Science and will be delivered by on-line/blended format,Technology in Africa and the Caribbean (FST and are the Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Agri-Food Safety and Quality Assurancein AC) got off to a start with a meeting of (offered by UWI), MSc Food Science (offered by the University of Ghana), the MSc inthe partners at the University of Botswana, Public Health and Nutrition and MSc Applied Microbiology (offered by the University offrom Dec 2nd to 4th, 2013. The project, Botswana) and the MSc Food Science (offered by the Botswana College of Agriculture).which received a grant of 500,000 euros, Nine training workshops would also be conducted and the focus of research would beis being led by Dr Jose Malete Jackson of on value addition of indigenous crops and the formation of networks.the University of Botswana with Professor The project coordinators recently partnered with the Caribbean Academy ofNeela Badrie of The University of the West Sciences (CAS) and the Department of Food Production and Faculty of Engineering, TheIndies (UWI), Dr Esther Sakyi-Dawson UWI, and held its first workshop on ‘Food Safety and Food Security in a Globalisedof the University of Ghana and Dr Tomaz World’ which was attended by over 95 participants on January 16th, 2014 at TheLangerholc of University Maribor in Slovenia, UWI. The Centre for Excellence inas partners. Other project collaborators Teaching and Learning, UWI, has begun its series of workshops on on-line trainingare the Botswana College of Agriculture for distance delivery of programmes.(BCA) and the Centre for Coordination of For more information, contact Professor Neela Badrie, Project Manager of ACP/Agricultural Research and Development Edulink 11 and Head of the Department of Food Production, Faculty of Foodfor Southern Africa (CCARDESA). and Agriculture at: neela.badrie@sta. uwi.edu or [email protected]. The UWI leg of the project is being Lecturers from the Postgraduatecoordinated by Dr Marsha Singh of the Diploma and MSc in Agri-FoodDepartment of Food Production, Faculty of Safety and Quality Assurance programmes attend workshop onFood and Agriculture, UWI, St Augustine. online/blended learning held onThe project deals with human capital February 15th, 2014.development with focus on graduate The facilitator was Dr Dianne Thurab-Nkosi, of the Centre forstudents, early career professionals and Excellence in Teachingfemale agri-business entrepreneurs. and Learning The programmes to be offered aspart of the project on Food Science and

Page 14 Faculty of Food and Agriculture News Departmental Projects - GeographyThe Faculty of Food and Agriculture News will feature research projects that are beingconducted by the Departments of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture. In this issue, wehighlight the projects conducted (in some cases in collaboation with other universities andorganizations) by the newest department within the faculty, Department of Geography.Terrestrial Flood Risk and Climate Change environment and natural systems. In addition, in the lower Caroni river basin, Trinidad: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) outlook for climate change Adaptation Measures for Vulnerable in Jamaica shows an increasing likelihood Communities of more intense hurricanes, which would result in increased frequency of floodingIn this project, flood risk in the lower Caroni due to intensive rainfall. This project aimsRiver basin is being assessed within the to generate new and improved flood riskcontexts of climate change, community maps and adaptation measures for vulnerablevulnerability and adaptive capacity. The project communities.aims to quantitatively assess current and futureflood risk using computational modelling and Partnership for Canada-Caribbeanintegrate the results from this into a spatial Climate Change Adaptation (ParCA)analysis of vulnerability to flood risk, based onkey indicators in Trinidad census data and the The Partnership for Canada-Caribbean Climateoutcomes of community surveys and structured Change Adaptation (ParCA) is an Internationalinterviews, within a community-based Development Research Centre Challengevulnerability assessment (CBVA) framework. Fund project under the International Research Initiativeon Adaptation to Climate Changewith A Matter of Survival: A life-course funding from the Canadian Research Councils approach to understanding the decision- (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and the IDRC, andmaking and economic livelihoods of school administered by the University of Waterloo, Canada. The methodology at the core of the dropouts in Trinidad and Tobago ParCA is the Community Based Vulnerability Assessment (CBVA), which integratesThis research aims to investigate the life-course physical and social science assessments oftrajectories and complex decision making vulnerability. The ParCA research programmeof school dropouts in Trinidad & Tobago in develops the CBVA approach in order toorder to improve retention in formal education integrate governance dimensions, explicitlyand the income-generating capabilities and considering maladaptation and the contributionprospects of dropouts. Only about 60% of the of adaptation to achieving the Millenniumstudents in Trinidad & Tobago survive the Development Goals.formal national education system to completehigh school. This study compares dropout Before the Pavements: Housing andlivelihoods, and especially the uptake of crime, Homelessness in Trinidad and Tobagoin variably rural and urban parts of the country. This project examines the causes and Climate Change and Inland Flooding in characteristics of homelessness in Trinidad & Jamaica: Risk and Adaptation Measures Tobago. Street-dwellers are characteristic of urban areas, but the CSO has also documented for Vulnerable Communities street-dwellers in more rural parts of the country. This research on homelessnessFlooding is one of the major examines the material and social spaces ofnatural hazards affecting Jamaica homelessness and the lives of hidden homelessas well as other small island states persons, including women and children.in the Caribbean, causing significant lossto life and property. Jamaica has shownrepeated occurrences of flooding as a resultof disharmony between human use of the

Volume 3 Issue 1 Page 15 Retirement and Appreciation FunctionRetirement is a time of reflection and Dean Isaac Bekele presents a gift to celebration. The Department of Food Mrs Judy CatoProduction, Faculty of Food and Agricultureheld its Retirement andAppreciation Function on in the quality of education offered by TheThursday 30th January, 2014 at the Conference UWI. His four children, all UWI graduates,Centre, Lloyd Braithwaite Building, The are Dr Ryan Harryram (Dental Medicine),University of the West Indies, St Augustine. Ms Sherene Harryram (Management), Mr Three outstanding retired staff members, Randy Harryram (Engineering) and Mr Robinwho collectively gave 121 years of service to UWI Harryram (Information Technology). Mrwere honoured. They were Mr Esau Mohammed, Harryram served The UWI for 41 years and wasMrs Judy Cato and Mr Sarran Harryram. promoted to Chief Technician (Field) in 2009. Mr Mohammed, Laboratory Technician His sense of fulfillment came from working(microbiology), retired on December with students and conducting research on25th, 2014 after 39 years of service to the various crops. As noted by Professor EmeritusDepartment. He is the proud father of two Richard Brathwaite, during his career Mrsons who are both graduates from the Faculty Harryram had several training opportunities atof Engineering, The UWI. He epitomizes the the University of Reading, United Kingdomsaying of Napoleon Hill: “If you can’t do (Technician in Training Course), Internationalgreat things, do small things in a great way”. Centre for Tropical Agriculture (Post-graduate Mrs Judy Cato gave 42 years of service Course in Seed Technology) and the Universityto UWI. In the latter part of her career, she was of London (Pesticide Application Technology).the Secretary to the Head of the Department. Also, honoured were Ms Deniece“Nothing was ever too difficult for her and she Deane and Ms Shivaun Alexander foralways assisted with a smiling face”, were the their service to the Department of Food Production. Ms Deane served from 1999- Mr Sarran Harryram receives a token from 2013 and Ms Alexander from 1999-2012. Mr Richard Saunders, UWI, St Augustine The Faculty of Food and Agriculture congratulates the retirees and other Registrar honoured staff for their sterling service,words of Professor Gary Garcia, Deputy Dean, dedication, advice and encouragement.Planning and Development, as he paid tributeto her. Mrs Cato is actively involved in the Submitted by Professor Neela Badrie, Head of thechurch. She is the proud mother of two children. Department of Food Production, Faculty of FoodHer daughter is presently a second year student and Agriculture, UWI, St Augustineat the University of the Southern Caribbean. Mr Sarran Harryram is a firm believer

Page 16 Faculty of Food and Agriculture NewsPostharvest Management Strategies to Reduce Losses of Perishable CropsImproved methods to reduce activities for reducing postharvest losses and promoting developmentpostharvest losses of fresh produce as of value-added products for food security and increasing employmentwell as minimally processed products, opportunities were identified.was the focus of a workshop conducted by Facilitators were from The UWI (Dr Majeed Mohammed, Dr Saheedathe Technical Centre for Agricultural and Mujjafar, Dr Wayne Ganpat, Dr Lynda Wickham, Dr Gaius Eudoxie) and theRural Cooperation in collaboration with private sector (Mr Prakash Issaire from Price Mart and Mr Rhett Chee Ping fromThe UWI and the National Agricultural Gordon Grant Shipping Company). Presentations were made by MsMarketing and Development Corporation PathleenTitus (TechnicalAdvisor,Tobago House of Assembly), Ms Celestine(NAMDEVCO). Butters (Packing house Manager, Guyana Marketing Corporation), Mr Ronnie The workshop, which took place Pilgrim (CARDI, St Lucia), Ms Nirmala Persad (Packing house Manager) and Msat the NAMDEVCO packing house Afiya John (Postharvest Technologist), NAMDEVCO.conference facility, Piarco, Trinidadfrom February 24-25, 2014, targeted fieldofficers, certified farmers and producemanagers. This training came out ofrecommendations from the third ISHSConference on Postharvest and QualityManagement of Horticultural Productsof Interest in Tropical Regions, whichwas held in Trinidad from July1st-5th, 2013. The need for follow-up Participants toured theNAMDEVCO packinghouse and gotdemonstrationof postharvest treatments.The tour wasfacilitated by Ms Nirmala Persad, MrAbdullah Ali-Baksh and Ms Afiya John